“The poster boy for its futility”

Jason Sobel’s Weekly 18 tackles the Ryder Cup and, per usual, Sobel has some amusing takes.

On Phil:

The American team’s demise in recent years certainly can’t be pinned on one player alone, but Mickelson has perhaps served as the poster boy for its futility. In the past three editions of the event, Lefty has posted a 3-9-2 record. Particularly troubling is his disappointing mark in four-ball matches — a format which would ostensibly suit his freewheeling style of play — because Mickelson hasn’t won any of ’em since Friday morning in 2002.

On J.B. Holmes:

Holmes owns only three top-10s all year — and none since May. The lack of strong recent performances plus the added pressure of playing in front of the home folks could be a fateful combination for the Kentuckians.

On Oliver Wilson (who?):

The young Brit (he turned 28 Sunday) has the unique distinction of being the first European player to make the Ryder Cup team without ever having notched a single victory.

And on the captains:

In Azinger and Faldo, however, this week’s event has been blessed by a pair of silver-tongued skippers who have spent time slinging arrows at one another over the years as players, as TV analysts and in the run-up to this week’s event. Don’t expect anything too malicious, but don’t expect the captains to roll over and play dead when it comes to taking on the tough questions, either.